Mexican Bandits Hanged for Rosenthal Murder

September 21, 1926

Mexico City (Sep. 20)

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Detailed reports of the kidnapping and slaying of Jacob Rosenthal, retired New York merchant, show that Rosenthal was slain within three miles of Cuernavaca during the encounter between the kidnapers and the troops. Two knife wounds were found in his body and a bullet hole in his forehead.

Thirteen bandits have already been killed as a result of the slaying of Rosenthal.

Seven suspected outlaws were killed by Federal soldiers in a clash near Huitzilac, where Rosenthal was kidnaped last Sunday. Three suspects were killed the night before in the same district. Three prisoners were brought to this city after being captured near the scene of the outrage. They were picked out by Joseph Ruff, Rosenthal’s son-in-law, from a line-up of fifty prisoners and identified by him as members of the gang that robbed his party on Sunday and kidnapped Rosenthal. It is stated that the three prisoners will be executed.

The kidnappers slain for the death of Jacob Rosenthal, of New York, include former General Bonifacio Hindjosa, of the Zapata forces, former Mayor of the village of Huitzilac, and Miguel Garcia, warden of the jail in the same village.

As a warning against banditry, the dead prisoners have been strung to trees along the road to Cuernavaca near the spot where Rosenthal was kidnapped and murdered.

Charge d’Affaires H. F. Arthur Schoenfeld transmitted to the Mexican Foreign Office a note from the State Department at Washington, calling for the apprehension and punishment of the assassins of Rosenthal.

Mr. Schoenfeld also received peremptory instructions from Secretary Kellogg to forward full details of the assassination at once. It is understood President Coolidge called for this information.